Machine for sample dyeing



March 31, 1964 F. A. PARKER ETAL MACHINE FOR SAMPLE DYEING 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Marbh e. 1961 Fro/M AZZe/L PAR/1 ER March 31, 1964F. A. PARKER ETAL MACHINE FOR SAMPLE DYEING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March6, 1961 flue/vars flank All/e PARKf/P F/ea MA 177/ United States Patent3,126,725 MACHINE FOR SAMPLE DYEING Frank Allen Parker and Fred Martin,Drummondville,

Quebec, Canada, assignors to Canadian Celancse Limited, Montreal,Quebec, Canada Filed Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,414 Claims priority,application Canada Jan. 24, 1961 2 Claims. (Cl. 68-27) This inventionrelates to dyeing fabric samples.

In laboratory dyeing apparatus the fabric sample is usually held by aclamp or a hook and mechanically raised and lowered in the dye liquid toassure proper distribution of the dye. This has the disadvantage that inthe area of contact with the holding clamp or hook, the dyeing is likelyto be uneven. In some cases, depending on the form of clamp, parts ofthe sample may remain almost completely undyed.

With thermoplastic fabrics, for example cellulose acetate or polyesteryarns, the raising and lowering of the fabric develops creases when thedye solution is at a temperature near the boil. The resulting generalappearance of the dyed sample is poor, and only portions of them can beused for subsequent tests or display.

The applicants have discovered that these disadvantages can be overcomeby supporting and confining the sample in the dye liquor in the form ofa loose upright roll and subjecting the roll to a reciprocating rotarymotion. This causes the roll to tighten and loosen in a pulsatingmovement which draws the dye back and forth through the interstices inthe fabric applying it evenly to the entire sample.

This method may be carried out with an apparatus according to theinvention which includes the following features. A cylindrical basket issuspended vertically within a dye pot by a member to appropriate drivemechanism for giving it a rotary reciprocating motion. Preferably thisconnecting member is a shaft extending axially through the basket andconnected to its bottom. Desirably, a number of dye pots are provided,all connected to the same drive so that a number of samples can be dyedat the same time. Each stem is disconnectably connected to an individualdrive shaft and the individual drive shaft provided with a handle knob.The drive shaft may thus be removed axially from its connection with thedrive mechanism independently of the other drive shafts.

With this arrangement, the need for holding clips or clamps iseliminated. The fabric sample is merely rolled into a roll and placed inthe basket by slipping it over the supporting shaft. The fabric is dyedevenly without the formation of creases irrespective of thecharacteristics of the material being processed or dyeing temperatures.A larger sample than usual can be dyed in a given volume of liquor, andconsequently liquor-to-cloth ratios closer to those used in productionmachines can be achieved. Dye recipes tested in the lab can be useddirectly for production work.

Having thus described the nature of the invention, particular referencewill be made to the attached drawings illustrating a preferredembodiment thereof, and in which FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, showing a sample dyeing apparatus having a battery ofindividual sample dyeing units with a common drive.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1illustrating the drive in more detail.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-section along the line 33 of FIGURE 2showing in detail a portion of the drive mechanism as related to one ofthe sample holding units.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section of a portion of FIGURE 3 along the lines4-4, showing somewhat relative posi- "'ice tions of a textile sample,the perforated sample holding cup and dye bath.

The sample dyeing apparatus shown consists essentially of a plurality ofindividual dye pots 17, a plurality of perforated sample holders orbaskets 21, one for each dye pot, supporting means for the sampleholders including a central rod 25, and a driving mechanism tocontrollably rotate the sample holders, first in one direction, then inthe other.

More specifically, and with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, an insulatedbath 10 is provided witha closed type steam coil 13 and a cover 15.Steam coils 13 are for bringing the heating liquid in the bath 10,usually Water, to the required temperature. The steam supply can becontrolled automatically by known recording controller means to maintainany desired stable temperature of the heating liquid.

Since all the dye pots 17 and perforated sample holders 21 are of asimilar construction, reference will be made to that shown in FIGURE 3.

A cylindrical dye pot -17 having an outstanding annular flange 19 seatsin a centering recess 18 in the bath cover 15 sunrounding the opening'16. The bath cover 15 thus supports the dye pot 17 partially immersedin the liquid of the bath.

The cylindrical sample holder basket 21, adapted to contain a fabricsample 23 in the form of a roll, is positioned so that it fits freelywithin the dye pot 17 with the fabric sample 23 totally immersed in thedye. Each perforated sample holder 21 is supported by a centrally placedrod 25 having one end attached to the bottom 20 of the sample holder 21.

The sample 23' is placed in the basket by rolling in into a rollhavingan axial opening and slipping it over the top of the rod 25 and allowingit to slide down into contact with the bottom 2t} of the basket.

Each sample holder 21 is rotated several revolutions, first in onedirection, then in the other, by a pair of recipr-ooable racks 27carried on a sliding frame 29. The frame 29 is slideably supportedthrough brackets 30 on rods 32. The racks 27 mesh with pinions 31,fastened to rods 33. The rack supporting frame 29 is reciprocatedlengthwise by a crank 35 and connecting lever 37. The crank 35 isrotated by a vertical drive shaft 39 which is driven from below by amotor 41 through suitable speed reduction gearing.

The rod 33 which is driven by the pinion 31 is connected through acoupling 43 to the rod 25 of each sample holder 21. The rod 33 can atany time be lifted by a knob 45 to disengage the pinion 31 from the rack27. By loosening the thumb screw 45, the individual sample holder 21 canbe removed and/or replaced without stopping the machine or interferingwith the other holders. Replacement is just as easy.

The rotation of the roll 23 back and forth first in one direction andthen in the other, causes the roll to tighten and loosen in a pulsatingmovement. This motion of the fabric draws the dye liquor back and forththrough its interstices. This has the result of applying the dye evenlyto the entire sample. The wall of the basket 21 prevents the fabric fromunrolling. The rod 25 retains the sample roll centrally of the basket.Apparently, the roll is rotated partially by the viscous drag of the dyeliquor and partly by contact with the end of the roll with the bottom ofthe basket.

The dye pots 17, baskets 21 and rods 25 are preferably made of stainlesssteel or other inert material to prevent contamination of the dyeliquor.

Generally, the size of a sample will run about 5 to 6 inches in Width,12 to 15 inches in length. A sample is usually made into a roll havingabout 10 thicknesses of cloth depending on the nature of the material.The

speed of the rotary motion is relatively critical and is controlled tocause alternate tightening and loosening of the roll without unrollingor causing the cloth to get tangled. The applicants have found that aspeed of rtation between about 130 and 150 rpm. is effective. Preferablythe racks 27 reciprocate about times a minute causing rotation of therods 25, seven turns in each direction alternatively. This isparticularly suitable for an apparatus in which the baskets are about 6%inches in height and 1% inches in diameter.

The applicants have found that by appropriate adjustment the sampledyeing process can be made to approximate that of production dyeing.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for dyeing textile samples, consisting of a vat providedwith a cover for holding a temperature regulating medium, said coverbeing provided with a plurality of openings arranged in rows, anelongated dye-pot for holding a quantity of dye-liquor mounted in eachopening, means for retaining said dye-pot in said opening, an elongatedcylindrical fabric-retaining basket within each dye-pot, means forsuspending said fabric-retaining basket within said dye-pot comprising ashaft concentric with and extending from said basket and secured to thebottom thereof, said shaft being connected to a transmission means andextending thereabove for rotation of the shaft in either direction, saidtransmission means including a rod disconnectably connected to saidshaft, a pinion on said rod, a common rack engageable with each pinion,and means for reciprocating said rack first in one direction and then inthe other whereby a fabric sample when rolled around said shaft isalternatively tightened and loosened while being held by said basketfrom unwinding to cause diffusion of the liquid in the dye-pottherethrough, the fabric roll being entirely free but supported by thefloor of the basket and limited in its outward movement by the Wallsthereof.

2. An apparatus for dyeing textile samples, comprising, a vat forcontaining a temperature regulating medium, a horizontal cover on thebath, the cover being provided with parallel longitudinally extendingrows of spaced-apart openings, a vertical elongated dye-pot in eachopening having a collar adjacent its upper end engaging the cover aboutthe opening, a horizontal supporting frame spaced above the bath, aplurality of shafts rotatably mounted on said frame one in register witheach of said openings and each having a lower part extending downwardlyfrom the frame and an upper part projecting above the frame, the lowerpart of each shaft being connected to a rod projecting downwardly, anelongated cylindrical fabric-retaining basket extending within eachdye-pot and having its walls concentric therewith and a floor connectedto the lower end of the rod whereby the rod is concentric with thebasket, an upper part of the shaft being toothed to provide a pinion, apair of racks one at each side of said frame and engaging the pinions ofthe rods at that side of the frame, means mounting each of said racksfor movement longitudinally of said frame, and means for causinglongitudinal reciprocating movement of the racks whereby the shafts,rods and haskets are rotated first in one direction a given rotationaldistance and then in the other direction whereby a fabric sample whenrolled around said rod is alternately tightened and loosened while beingheld by said basket from unwinding to cause diffusion of the liquid inthe dye-pot therethrough, the fabric roll being entirely free butsupported by the floor of the basket and limited in its outward movementby the walls thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS767,568 Kellum Aug. 16, 1904 1,160,001 Schmitz Nov. 9, 1915 1,174,912Tracy Mar. 7, 1916 1,269,513 Smith June 11, 1918 2,072,323 Wentz Mar. 2,1937 2,246,104 Osuch July 17, 1941 2,480,921 Hahn Sept. 6, 19492,498,416 Hadley Feb. 21, 1950 2,901,902 Horsfall Sept. 1, 1959

1. AN APPARATUS FOR DYEING TEXTILE SAMPLES, CONSISTING OF A VAT PROVIDEDWITH A COVER FOR HOLDING A TEMPERATURE REGULATING MEDIUM, SAID COVERBEING PROVIDED WITHA PLURALITY OF OPENINGS ARRANGED IN ROWS, ANELONGATED DYE-POT FOR HOLDING A QUANTITY OF DYE-LIQUOR MOUNTED IN EACHOPENING, MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID DYE-POT IN SAID OPENING, AN ELONGATEDCYLINDRICAL FABRIC-RETAINING BASKET WITHIN EACH DYE-POT, MEANS FORSUSPENDING SAID FABRIC-RETAINING BASKET WITHIN SAID DYE-POT COMPRISING ASHAFT CONCENTRIC WITH AND EXTENDING FROM SAID BASKET AND SECURED TO THEBOTTOM THEREOF, SAID SHAFT BEING CONECTED TO A TRANSMISSION MEANS ANDEXTENDING THEREABOVE FOR ROTATION OF THE SHAFT IN EITHER DIRECTION, SAIDTRANSMISSION MEANS INCLUDING A ROD DISCONNECTABLY CONNECTED TO SAIDSHAFT, A PINION ON SAID ROD, A COMMON RACK ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH PINION,MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID RACK FIRST IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN IN THEOTHER WHEREBY A FABRIC SAMPLE WHEN ROLLED AROUND SAID SHAFT ISALTERNATIVELY TIGHTENED AND LOOSENED WHILE BEING HELD BY SAID BASKETFROM UNDINDING TO CAUSE DIFFUSION OF THE LIQUID IN THE DYE-POTTHERETHROUGH, THE FABRIC ROLL BEING ENTIRELY FREE BUT SUPPORTED BY THEFLOOR OF THE BASKET AND LIMITED IN ITS OUTWARD MVEMENT BY THE WALLSTHEREOF.